Crouch was speaking to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee a month after Aluko appeared before the same panel to describe her experience of raising a bullying and discrimination complaint against Sampson, the former England women's team manager.

Four senior FA bosses also gave evidence to that hearing in October but their reluctance to acknowledge mistakes made during that process irritated the MPs at the time - a feeling that has not abated, if today's hearing is a guide.

Crouch was repeatedly asked by the panel if she believes the FA "is fit for purpose" and whether chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn are the right people to lead the organisation.

The minister avoided giving direct answers to those questions but said the FA must now show it takes its duty of care to athletes seriously, has a robust grievance procedure in place and fixes its "culture, from the top down".

Crouch said: "In my view they should take Eni Aluko up on her offer to help the FA with those reforms. I think she would be a great asset in terms of helping drive cultural change."